This research programme is headed by Prof Gavin Churchyard. Two funded and one pending project are included in this programme:

Tuberculosis in HIV+ miners on antiretroviral therapy
The purpose of this study is to describe, in an endemic TB setting of the gold mines of South Africa, the clinical spectrum, treatment outcomes and inflammatory responses associated with TB that occurs while on antiretroviral therapy and determine the relationship between cellular immune function and risk of TB among HIV-infected individuals on ART. This study will elucidate the immune factors that predispose to developing TB while on ART - this will assist in developing strategies to further reduce the incidence of TB among HIV-infected individuals on ART in settings with endemic TB. The proposal was submitted to the DAIDS CIPRA programme in September 2003 and the outcome is awaited.

Tuberculosis Treatment Consortium
This US Centre for Disease Control (CDC) funded TB treatment trials unit aims to establish state of the art management of Tuberculosis (TB), the conduct of innovative programs, and the development of educational and training tools. CAPRISA has recently been funded for a TBTC unit which includes the Prince Cyril Zulu Chest Clinic and King George V Hospital, which serves as a referral centre for hospitalization of TB patients. The CAPRISA TBTC will be conducting a TB therapy trial to determine whether adding a quinolone to current treatment regimens can reduce treatment duration to 4 months.

Smear negative TB
This BMS 'Secure the Future' Foundation-funded study will assess the morbidity and mortality associated with a presumptive diagnosis of smear-negative tuberculosis in adults living in high HIV prevalence settings.